The recession has failed to dent the number of entries to next week’s Dubai Lynx Awards, with organisers receiving a record 2,079 pieces of work from 18 countries.

A total of 165 companies will be competing for the coveted Dubai Lynx trophies on 17 March, with entries up almost 3 per cent on last year.

The highest number of entries are in print, standing at 740, with outdoor second at 488. There are also 237 entries in the TV/cinema category, 208 in media, and 106 in radio. The Dubai Lynx Awards are in their third year.

The RTA has agreed to spend the 30 million on “all advertising, marketing and media services published and aired in the different mediums owned by AMG”. In return, the RTA will receive “preferential treatment and special rates on all ads and marketing campaigns”.

The aim is for the RTA to spread public awareness and decrease traffic accidents and offences. Only last week AMG, which publishes Emirates Business 24|7 and has a string of radio and TV stations, announced a significant number of redundancies.

With only one week to go until the Dubai Lynx awards night, the big question troubling the region’s ad community is not who will pick up the grand prix, (ok, maybe that’s crossed a couple of people’s minds) but what on earth am I going to wear?

Though for anyone hatching plans to try something a little more sartorially adventurous, here’s a cautionary tale: A few years ago a well-known British creative director was utterly convinced he would sweep the board at a UK advertising awards show. So convinced in fact, that in order to carry his haul of golden arrows – the awards’ highly covetable trophies – he had the bright idea to attend the event dressed as the noted archer, Robin Hood himself, complete with green pointy hat, tights and quiver. He won nothing. The only thing he took home was a large amount of egg on his face. You have been warned…